Körting engineering for the pulp and paper industry
Thermocompressors for the paper industry
Thermocompressors for the pulp and paper industry ensure drying cylinder drainage in paper-machine drying sections or compression of low-pressure steam to be used in steam supply networks. They are almost exclusively used in a pressure range that exceeds atmospheric pressure.
Due to their design as versions that are controllable with a nozzle needle, Körting thermocompressors can respond flexibly to a wide range of operating conditions. Savings in steam consumption also drastically cut operational costs.
Advantages at a glance
- long service lives
- low steam consumption due to controllable motive steam
- quick to adapt to changing conditions in the plant
- little maintenance required
- exceptionally reliable
- easy to operate
- high-quality manufacturing based on global design codes (i.e. AD 2000, Manufacture Licence ML [China], TR [Russia] or ASME [US] and others)
Thermocompressors are part of the group of jet ejectors and don’t require any mechanical drives. Instead they use the energy of a flowing medium under pressure to generate a pumping action. Steam usually acts as the motive medium in thermocompressors.
High-pressure steam is released in a motive nozzle to bring it up to the maximum velocity. At the same time, the pressure on the nozzle’s outlet drops so that the steam that requires compressing is suctioned in. When the two flows are combined in the mixing element downstream, some of the motive flow’s kinetic energy transfers to the suction flow. The mixed flow is then slowed down in the subsequent diffuser and an increase in pressure occurs at the same time. This steam mixture can be used again in the process afterwards at the higher pressure level.
- GJS (cast iron)
- carbon steel
- stainless steel
Only a thermocompressor designed to handle its entire operating range can guarantee that the plant operates trouble free. Which is why Körting Hannover AG bases its designs on characteristic curves that were created in its own test field. This expertise has evolved over many decades in Körting Hannover AG’s reasearch- and development-department and analysed with software developed in-house.
CFD calculations (Computational Fluid Dynamics) complement the results of the tests. These allow Körting to optimise the flow channel, but can’t replace the complex recording of characteristic curves in the test field. These skills make Körting thermocompressors leading products internationally.
In order to expand the operating range, Körting thermocompressors come as controllable versions with adjustable nozzle needles. Therefore, it’s possible to change the motive steam flow without having an impact on the motive pressure. In the part load range this sometimes means huge advantages in terms of motive steam consumption compared with a solution requiring an external reduction in the motive pressure using a separate control valve.
Flow pattern of a Körting thermocompressor created with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The smaller CFD simulation shows a nozzle with a nozzle needle used to change the motive steam flow in Körting thermocompressors.
Applications
Drying sections in paper machines
In a paper machine’s drying section, the moist sheet of paper is conveyed over one or several drying cylinders. These cylinders are heated from the inside with steam. Their hot surfaces cause the water to evaporate, thus drying the paper.
The heating steam condensate can’t remain in the drying cylinders. An increasing film of condensate impairs the transfer of heat and causes energy consumption to rise. The condensate is expelled with a certain amount of steam from the cylinder (blow-through steam) so that the condensate can overcome the static height of the bottom edge of the cylinder to the hub and the centrifugal force.
The multi-cylinder machines used to make fine paper and cardboard have several drying cylinders that are often combined to form dryer sections. Steam and condensate are separated downstream each dryer section and the steam continues to flow to the next dryer section (a cascade system). The condensate is expelled via rotating or non-rotating siphons.
Thermocompressors can also be operated in stand-by mode. Thermocompressors are only used in intermittent mode if the pressure has to be decreased or increased for operational reasons.
Combined cascade and circulation system with operation of a Körting thermocompressor
Pressure increase of turbine exhaust steam with operation of a Körting thermocompressor
Single-cylinder paper machines are used to produce hygienic paper. These have one single large drying cylinder that can be several metres in diameter and length. These are often called “Yankee cylinders” too.
Good heat transfer and even temperature distribution over the entire surface of the drying cylinder are important for the drying process. As a result, consistent removal of the condensate from the cylinder is vital and achieved with the aid of blow-through steam. This steam is compressed by Körting thermocompressors and circulated in a closed loop.
Thermocompressor at the Yankee cylinder on a paper machine for the production of hygienic paper
Steam boxes are used to speed up the drying process. The dry content is achieved due to better drainage performance in the press. The drainage capabilities of a steam box are significantly increased due to a rise in the pulp sheets’ temperature and the associated reduction in the viscosity of the water. Raising the temperature by 10 °C is sufficient to create this effect.
Körting thermocompressors can utilise blow-through and flash steam to use them as thermal energy in the steam box. The result is a cut in operational costs, or a rise in production with the operational costs staying the same.
Utilisation of flash steam for the steam box by using a Körting thermocompressor
Find out more about relevant products for the pulp and paper industry
Steam jet gas compressors in pulp production
Körting steam jet gas compressors are ideal for extracting sulphurous gases generated during pulp production (CNCG - concentrated non-condensable gases).
Steam jet heaters
Körting steam jet heaters heat up water with steam, which condensates directly into water; they operate quietly even with alternating loads of steam and water. Their excellent design makes them efficient and effective.
Waste water aeration
Virtually every industrial park has sewage plants to clean or treat the process waste water created there. Extremely high concentrations of calcium carbonate can occur in the pulp and paper industry in particular. These place special demands on the aeration systems. Körting’s oxygen transfer systems are ideal in this case, operate constantly and efficiently, even if the sewage contains a high content of dry solids.
Cooling with steam: steam jet chilling plants
Körting’s steam jet chilling plants use exhaust steam or industrial waste heat to produce cold water. They don’t require gases harmful to the climate as they use water as refrigerant and are therefore especially eco-friendly.
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